Frequently asked questions

You may need a structural engineer when removing a loadbearing wall, installing steel beams, building an extension or converting a loft, or if you are concerned about cracking or movement. We assess the structure and explain the input your project needs.

Not always. For a straightforward wall or chimney breast removal, contact us with photos and a brief description so we can confirm the structural input required. Extensions and loft conversions usually also need layout and Building Regulations drawings from an architect or designer. We can work with your existing project team.

Yes. Contact Joseph Lawson or George Cook directly by phone or email. We explain the structural input needed and confirm the scope, fee and likely timescale before work is booked. Please mention any purchase, Building Control or construction deadlines when you enquire.

We are based in Hertford and work across Hertfordshire, including Ware, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, St Albans, Hitchin, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Bishop’s Stortford, Hatfield and Harpenden. We also undertake suitable projects in Essex and North London. Send the property postcode so we can confirm availability for your location.

We are structural engineers. Our structural surveys and reports focus on the structure, specific defects and appropriate next steps. They are not a full condition survey of every part of a property or its services. If you need a general home or building survey, appoint a building surveyor; we can provide focused structural input where required.

Yes. Send us the relevant survey extract or lender’s request, the property address and photographs. We can confirm whether a focused structural inspection and report is appropriate. Further investigation or monitoring may be recommended. Any lending or insurance decision remains with the lender or insurer.

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Not necessarily. Cracks can result from shrinkage, temperature changes, settlement, local structural defects or ground movement. Subsidence is one possible cause, and photographs alone may not establish it. Seek an assessment if cracks are new or widening, appear inside and outside, or accompany sticking doors or windows. We can advise whether a crack survey or further investigation is needed.

They can. Clay shrinks and swells as its moisture changes, and trees can draw moisture from it. That does not mean every tree near a house causes trouble: the species, size and distance of the tree, the foundation depth and the history of the property all matter.

A wall may support floors, a roof or other walls, and its role is not always obvious. Joist direction, wall thickness and a hollow sound are not reliable on their own. A structural assessment, and sometimes opening-up, may be needed. Arrange an assessment before removing a wall or chimney breast.

Yes. Our work includes structural design for extensions, loft conversions, alterations and new builds, as well as appraisals of existing domestic and commercial buildings. We also work on foundations, retaining walls, repairs and strengthening. Send us your brief so we can confirm whether the project is within our scope.

Structural calculations assess how beams, columns, walls and foundations carry the design loads. Together with drawings and construction details, they support the structural part of a Building Regulations submission. The required information depends on the work. Approval rests with the building control body; we respond to structural queries about our design.

Your quotation defines the deliverables. Depending on the appointment, these may include structural calculations, marked-up plans and construction details for your builder and Building Control. Connection design, temporary works, site inspections and later design changes are included only where agreed. Tell us about changes before work proceeds.

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No. Planning permission concerns whether development is permitted; Building Regulations set requirements for how work is carried out. A project may need one, both or neither, depending on the work. Structural calculations address the structural design, not every approval requirement. Check with your local planning authority and building control body before starting.

Connection design and temporary works must be specifically agreed in our appointment. Tell us what is required so we can confirm the scope and fee. These items should not be assumed to be included in a general calculations package.

It depends on the appointment. A structural survey normally involves inspecting the property. Some design work can be prepared from suitable drawings and verified information, while other projects require a visit or opening-up to establish the existing construction. We confirm what is needed before work starts.

The fee depends on the property, the complexity of the work and whether you need a site visit, a report, calculations or drawings. Send the address, photos and any plans so we can confirm the scope and provide a quotation. Check what is included, including any additional investigations, revisions or specialist design.

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Timescales depend on our availability, the project complexity and the information required. We confirm the likely programme when quoting. Missing drawings, opening-up, monitoring or specialist investigations can affect delivery. Tell us about your deadlines before booking; allow separately for Building Control review and construction.

The property address and postcode, a short description of the works or the concern, photos, and any drawings or plans. We then confirm the scope, the fee and the likely timescale before anything is booked.